Mother Cummings

[Speculator]

Hey all.

Wandered up to Mother Cummings (northern) Peak yesterday. Was running low on batteries in the camera, so only took a few shots. Here's the best two:


Are these the edible ones?


Love that field of cushion plants. I hope you don't have to walk across it to get to the back mother cummings peak.



The rest of the shots, mostly of the view etc are over here.

(specu)L8r.

[Joe]

why not throw one of your shots into the photo comp? That one of the berries is nice...and you would be odds on to win with it at moment

[walkinTas]

I like this Quamby Bluff shot. Nice shooting.

[Speculator]

I like this Quamby Bluff shot. Nice shooting.

Actually, that's not Quamby, but thanks anyway.

I didn't know what that flat lump to the south was either. Anyone care to guess what it is?

[Son of a Beach]

I like this Quamby Bluff shot. Nice shooting.

Actually, that's not Quamby, but thanks anyway.

I didn't know what that flat lump to the south was either. Anyone care to guess what it is?

It's not Ironstone, is it? Probably not... It looks too close and too vegetated.

[Joe]

Its not the actual peak of mother cummings is it?

[walkinTas]

Actually, that's not Quamby, but thanks anyway.

Too right it isn't! My mistake!

Its not the actual peak of mother cummings is it?

Yeah it is! Its the East-to-South Panorama.

[Speculator]

Its not the actual peak of mother cummings is it?

However did you guess!

Turns out it is. The peak I went to which I always thought was MCP is basically unnamed. Hardy and Elson call it Mother Cummings Northern Peak. An odd situation because Mother Cummings is a flat unimpressive lump and the peak I stood on was a fantastic looking craggy outcrop that can be seen for miles. You'd think it'd have a name.


That's the 25k map, with the track I walked in red, as signposted on Westrope Road. The cairns and tape lead to the northern peak. It's not clear whether you can make it to the southern (real) peak. If someone knows what the best approach is I'd be interested to hear.

L8r.

[Joe]

there is a track marked on that map...which without looking at the whole map I would assume to be smoko creek track? If thats it then thats an awesome walk. Ive done it as far as smoko falls with Mr Walkintas and thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Son of a Beach]

Well, I never. I always thought that Mother Cummings Peak was the one at the far right of this photo (as seen from near Lady Lake).

[Joe]

yeah so did it...damn specularor knows how to shatter a good misconception

[walkinTas]

As I was saying, (cough!) that is an awesome picture of Mother Cummings Peak. If it hadn't rained then TW and I would have been there. Does nearly count?

As far as I know there are two tracks. The Smoko creek falls track and another off a logging spur on the north face. The spur runs in off Meander Falls Rd on the south side of MCP. (I think it is called Spur 3 - off Scotts Road).

From our walk into Smoko Creek falls, I'm betting the track up to the summit is pretty steep, but it was wet and overcast so we didn't bother. Also, I'm not to sure how easy it is to access the Smoko Creek track. Last time I went to Meander Falls (late last year) I noticed a sign up that said Smoko Road was closed to all traffic. I'm not sure if that was a temporary thing or more permanent.

[johnw]

I thought this was Mother Cummings Peak on LHS (is it?):


A couple of years ago we were staying at the cabins next door to Trowunna Wildlife Park at Mole Creek, and that was the view from there. MCP via Smoko Creek is on my list of potential things to do when in Tasmania next month. Although I'm sure to run out of time before I run out of things I'd like to do.

Kind regards,
John W

[walkinTas]

This is just a bit further around the corner. Your pic is the area of the track Mr. Speculator walked. It is the one described by Tyrone Thomas in "120 walks in Tasmania" that heads up the north side. As you just drive by it is hard to imagine Speculator's photographs. I think the whole 2km Mountain is just called Mother Cummings Peak, so North and South Peak are probably a good distinctions. Like everyone else I thought the front peak was "the" Peak. Speculator's second photo shows the rainforest-sphagnum mire - part of MCP's fame.

[flyfisher]

There are some top snaps of Mother Cummings in that lot.
Ireally liked the ones showing Lady Lake hut because of the perspective it gives of the lay of the land.
Good work one and all
FF

[sirius Tas]

The easiest walk onto Mother Cummings(southern summit) would be off the end of Scotts Road....just drive to the end...can't miss the start of track. Walked up during winter...only around 1hr along an excellent track to plateau...then around 3/4 km to summit across a very flatish plateau. With a few cm's of snow under foot...the snow covered Bastion Bluff and the central plateau were pretty speccy. This access would suit a family as there is no rock scree or any hard climbing involved. I think my return time was around 3 hrs with quite a bit of pink ribbon tieing.

[Taurë-rana]

Smoko Road had reopened last time I was there - earlier this year. I want to walk in this way to MCP as well some time.

[MJD]

I see that the continuing saga of where is Mother Cummings Peak has struck again . This is not helped by the fact that the 25k map is wrong, wrong, wrong! The 100k map is correct or perhaps I should say right, right, right! Mother Cummings Peak as marked on the 25k map is in fact Cummings Head. The point that you walked to is the spot that the Nomenclature Board want to call Mother Cummings Peak. Not sure if they have done this yet - walkinTas mentioned it in the "Wiki forum" - they had previously marked Mother Cummings Peak as the the high ground that you would have reached if you had kept walking east rather than turning left and heading north on your gps track.

Hope that makes sense.

[MJD]

PS: nice picture of the berries. Edible? Dunno... should have taken a taste tester.

[walkinTas]

I see that the continuing saga of where is Mother Cummings Peak has struck again . The point that you walked to is the spot that the Nomenclature Board want to call Mother Cummings Peak.

As proposed in alteration list 491. and discussed here.

[Speculator]

I see that the continuing saga of where is Mother Cummings Peak has struck again . The point that you walked to is the spot that the Nomenclature Board want to call Mother Cummings Peak.

MotherCummingsPeak-MeanderValley.jpg

As proposed in alteration list 491. and discussed here.

Good, 'cos the original "peak" wasn't a peak and the whole thing didn't make any freakin' sense!

[MJD]

Sorry, didn't notice that it was an old topic that had sprung back to life. Must admit that it all looked vaguely familiar having previously done a search of the BWT site for "Mother Cummings" but that didn't sink in until... you guessed it... I had pressed "Submit".

Must be all that white wine I was drinking. Oh well at least we all know where the peak is now. . Heaven forbid that anyone else gets this wrong.

[Son of a Beach]

Reviving old topics is not a problem... but maybe we should have a rule about drinking and typing?

[MJD]

OK, I vote "for"

[tasadam]

but maybe we should have a rule about drinking and typing?

Also the rule known as "how to lose members", "how to make a quiet forum", etc...

Yeah FOR!
One must drink before typing... If glass is not in reach when you are at the keyboard, do not type. If glass is empty, get bottle. If bottle is empty and was full, maybe don't type (coz you can't!)

[GerryDuke]

I am the culprit who raised the Smoko Creek issue earlier in the year. Yes, I agree that the Tasmap is wrong!! When you check on http://www.thelist.tas.gov.au (when it's working!) it looks as if the map 'changes' have been pasted in - the contours in the area do not match!!

I have since been back to Smoko Falls after heavy rain. They are great falls!! The track up to Mother Cummings Peak (sumit - the mound in the middle!!) heads up from the falls. I also have not been to the peak. Perhaps the mountain would be best called Mother Cummings Range.

Presumably the Smoko Falls track meets up with the track from Westrope Road. The Smoko Falls track can only be described as pristine.

I have updated my site:
http://www.touringtasmania.info/smoko_falls.htm

Gerry Duke